How Can I Tell if a Proposed Reaction Mechanism Is Plausible

There are two criteria that must be met for a proposed reaction mechanism to be plausible  

The individual steps (elementary processes) must sum to the correct overall reaction. 

The rate-determining step (the slow step) must have the same rate law as the experimentally determined rate law. 

Consider the gas-phase reaction of hydrogen with iodine monochloride to form hydrogen chloride and iodine. 

The experimentally determined rate law for this reaction is rate = [H2][IC1]. We present four different proposed 

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Maity new Sample Problems and Practice Problems have been included in this edition to provide more structure and practice to help students develop strong problem-solving skills. A significant number of these new problems appear in FAQ boxes, designed to help students master important material that is commonly misunderstood. New FAQ boxes answer such commonly asked questions as How can I tell if a proposed reaction mechanism is plausible and Why do some substances dissolve and not others Most FAQ boxes contain Sample and Practice Problems, giving students the opportunity to assess and improve their comprehension. 

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